Kano govt arrests 15 persons for leading Juma’at prayer despite COVID-19 lockdown order

The Kano State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of fifteen suspects for allegedly leading Juma’at prayers despite a persisting COVID-19 lockdown order by the state government.

This development was confirmed on Tuesday by DSP Abdullahi Haruna, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Kano, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Speaking further during the interview, DSP Haruna said that the suspects were arrested for allegedly leading the Juma’at prayer congregation in violation of the state’s social distancing and lockdown order.

He said; “The suspects were arrested after committing the offence on April 17 at about 1:30 pm at Kano Municipal, Garko, Gwale, Karaye, and Tarauni Local Government Areas of the state by members of the Kano State Hisbah Board and some concerned residents of the state who transferred the case to the police.

“The suspects (names withheld) were arrested for defying the lockdown order by leading Friday congregational prayer in the state.

READ ALSO: Ganduje, wife, test negative for COVID-19

“The suspects aged between 28 and 40-years-old would be charged to court.”

Haruna said the command had deployed personnel to enforce compliance with the lockdown, warning that defaulters would be prosecuted.

“Police patrol vehicles and operatives have been deployed to the streets of Kano to enforce compliance with lockdown order,” he said.

This comes after Governor Ganduje openly solicited help from the Federal Government of Nigeria in its ongoing fight against the dreaded COVID-19 disease.

Governor Ganduje made the appeal on Monday while receiving the Director General of Nigeria Center for Disease Control, NCDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu, who was in Kano on sightseeing.

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